Device and apparatus for cleaning tanks and the like



Nov. 29, 1932. J. J. JOHNSTON DEVICE AND APPARATUS FOR CLEANING TANKS AND THE LIKE Filed March 20, 1951 ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 29, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE J'ORDIE J. JOHNSTON, 0F ABILENE, TEXAS DEVICE AND APPARATUS FOR CLEANING TANKS AND THE LIKE Application led March 20, 1931.` Serial No. 524,192.

This invention has relation to devices and apparatus for cleaning tanks and the like, and more especially the invention relates to means for cleaning tanks used for swimming purposes and recreation.

The invention further relates to an apparatus for cleaning swimming pools covered by U. S. Letters Patent No. 1,787,274, granted to the applicant herein on December 30, 1930.

The object of this present invention is to improve the apparatus so as to eliminate certain parts with the substitution of other elements to make the apparatus more eili- 5 cient and lighter in weight.

One of the particular objects in this respect is to provide means for lioating the upper part of the apparatus in the pool instead of supporting the same upon wheels i@ resting on the bottom of the tank as heretofore.

Another object lies in the provision of means for telescopically adjusting the sucy tion pipe with the pump barrel to suit va- "3@ rious depths of water in the pool.

With the above .and other objects in view the invention will be better understood from a perusal of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accom- 3'9 panying drawing and wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the entire apparatus.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the n apparatus showing the pumpr barrel, tele- 3 scopic suction pipe and the upper end or platform for the motor, the suction element being removed.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view along the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figures 4, 5 and 6 are detail views of the pump barrel arrangement; and

Figure 7 is a detail view of the suction element which rests on the bottom of a tank.

r Proceeding in accordance with the draw- 3 ing, in Figure 1 the entire apparatus is shown as it would appear in the tank the bottom of the tank being indicated at A and the water line at B.

The apparatus consists of two air tanks 1 and 2 connected in any suitable manner to a platform 3 for supporting a motor 4. The tanks'are placed far enough apart to properly balance the platform'and for enabling the -pump barrelV 5 to be connected to the platform and to the motor. lThe motor is preferably operated by electric current is operated by the motor and supplied atY spaced intervals with blades 10 aiiXed to a collar 11 whereby a suction is created to suck the sediment and water at the bottom of the pool or tank up through the pump barrel to the discharge hose.

For the purpose of cutting up any solid matr drawn upwardly by the propellers or blades during the operation of the pump, there are provided steel flanges 12 with sharpened edges, and these flanges are placed between each of the propellers as shown in Figure 2. Another purpose of these flanges is to prevent a whirling motion of the water in the pump barrel making the suction more direct. two of these flanges connected by a ring or element 13, held in place by small screws 14. These flanges, however, may be substituted for other similar elements and held in place by any suitable means.

Telescopically associated with the pump barrel 5 is a suction pipe 15 with an element 16, shown in Figures 1 and 7. This latter member is connected to runners 18 and holds the member 16 oli of the floor of the pool or tank so that the sediment and water may be drawn more easily upward as indicated by the arrows. This suction pipe and its member or elements 16 and 18 are of metal .and will rest upon the Hoor of the tank or pool and as the depth of the water increases or decreases will automatically move along the pump barrel as will be apparent. However, this suction pipe can be-made'to be raised or lowered by weights.

The invention is susceptible to other modiications and alterations such as would be within the scope and meaning of the appended claim.

In Figure 6 is shown a portion of What is claimed as new is:

An apparatus for cleaning swimming pools without emptying the pools, comprising the combination of a platform, float means for supporting the platform in the water of the pool, a motor on the platform, a pump shaft connected to the motor, a pump barrel traversedby said shaft, propeller blades on the shaft; a plurality of vertically-disposed elongated flanges connected to the inside of the pump barrel and spaced between the propellers to cut up any solid matter present in the water; and a suction pipe arranged to slide telesoopieally with said pump barrelaccording to water depth; said suction pipe having an elongated member with an inverted trough-like mouth for directing the sucltinysaid member supported upon runners resting upon the floor 'of the pool, leaving a 'space between the floor and member for suotion.

In testimony whereof I afIiX my signature.

.TOR-DIE J. JOHNSTON. 

